India-Palestine Current Affairs

India and Palestine have signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in different areas including health and education. The MoUs were signed after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Ramallah.

PM Modi had reached Ramallah, capital of Palestine via helicopter from Jordanian capital Amman becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Palestine. He was conferred Grand Collar of the state of Palestine, the highest order given to foreign dignitaries.

Signed agreements are

MoU for setting up of India-Palestine Super-specialty hospital at Beit Sahour in Bethelhem Governorate.

MOU for construction of school in Tamoon village in Tubas Governorate.

MoU for providing assistance for construction of additional floor to Jawahar Lal Nehru for Boys at Abu Dees.

Bilateral talks

During the deliberations, both leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and discussed issues of mutual interest. The highlights of joint press statement:

India is bound by promise to take care of interests of people of West Asian country. Both counties share historic and strong ties which have stood test of time. Palestine has continuously shown exemplary courage in tough times and India hopes to see independent Palestine soon. India expresses happiness that both countries are moving ahead with development cooperation. India will aid construction of an Institute of Diplomacy in Palestine.

PM Modi’s visit reaffirms depth of relationships two countries share that will contribute to further development and advancement of bilateral ties. Palestine relies on India’s role as international force and its role in non-alignment movement, in a way that is conducive to desired peace in the region.

India and Palestine has signed five agreements during the 4 day visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to India. This is Abbas’s fifth visit to India and the third state visit after his earlier visits in 2008 and 2012.

These 5 MoUs signed were on visa exemption for diplomatic passport holder, agriculture cooperation, cooperation in field of IT & Electronics, health sector and cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports.

Salient Highlights

India has called for early resumption of talks between Palestine and Israel and hoped to see a sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine, co-existing peacefully with Israel. Palestine for its part has thanked India for supporting it in various international forums. Palestine also hopes that India can play a vital role in Middle East Peace process. The Palestinian President also condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called for regional and international efforts to fight the menace.

India is assisting developmental projects in Palestine. It has been contributing to material & technical assistance and is building a techno Park in Ramallah at the cost of $12 million.

Both the countries also called for enhancing cultural exchanges between the two sides. India has sought Palestine’s participation in the International Yoga Day to be observed next month.

Background

India and Palestine enjoy a long standing friendship. In 1947, India registered its vote against he partition of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly. In 1974, India became the first Non-Arab State to recognize PLO as sole and legitimate representative of the people of Palestine. In 2012, India co-sponsored a resolution that resulted in up-gradation of the status of Palestine to a “non-member state‟. In 2014, India voted in favor of Palestine at the UN Human Rights Council. In 2015, India supported installation of Palestinian flag at the UN Premises similar to the flags of the member states.